AT THE CROSS
Intro.
1. "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light…"
2. The word of the cross is the gospel, God's power to save - 1 Cor. 1:21; Rom. 1:16.
3. Three things that occurred at the cross:
I. THE AUTHORITY OF THE OT LAW WAS DONE AWAY AT THE CROSS - Eph.
2:14-15; Col. 2:14; Rom. 7:4; Heb. 9:15-17.
A. This Was A Stumbling Block To Jews - 1 Cor. 1:23 (Acts 6:11-14).
B. The End Of The OT Law Continues To Be A Stumbling Block Today:
1. "Jesus came teaching LOM" (MMLJ part of the OT) - cf.
Matt. 5:17-18; 4:23; Lk. 16:16.
2. "One eternal covenant" - Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13.
II. THE REMISSION OF SINS BECAME AVAILABLE AT THE CROSS - Heb.
9:22; 10:10, 18.
A. This Was A Stumbling Block to Jews & Gentiles.
1. Re. the Jews:
a. That they needed saving - Rom. 2:17-24 (3:1-2, 9).
b. That Jesus was the Savior! - Lk. 24:45-47; Acts
26:17-18.
2. Re. the Gentiles: Such things were foolishness to them - Acts 17:18.
B. Remission Of Sins Continues To Be A Stumbling Block Today:
1. "Faith only" denominationalists scoff at the plan of
salvation which man must obey - Acts 2:36-38, 40-41.
2. "Continual cleansing" crowd mock possibility of apostasy -
1 Jno. 1:7- 9.
3. "Unity in doctrinal diversity" brethren scorn "one
way" of truth to be free from sin - Jno. 8:31-36.
III. THE CHURCH WAS PURCHASED AT THE CROSS - Acts 20:28; Eph.
5:25.
A. Stumbling block To Jews To Accept Gentiles - cf. Acts 11:1-3 (Eph. 2:11-13).
B. The Church Continues To Be A Stumbling Block Today:
1. Denominationalists: The church is unnecessary - yet, Eph. 5:23.
2. Brethren who say "preach the cross" not the church!
a. BAPTIZED: Into Christ - Rom. 6:3-4; Gal.
3:27; Into one body (the church) - 1 Cor. 12:13, 20.
b. RECONCILED: "Brought near" in
Christ - Eph. 2:13; Reconciled in one body (the church) - Eph. 2:16.
c. SAVED/REDEEMED: By blood of Christ - Eph.
1:7; The church purchased w/ blood of Christ - Acts 20:28.
Conclusion
1. The cross of Christ is the focal point of history & our salvation!
2. 1 Pet. 2:4-8 - We either stumble at Christ & His cross by disobeying His word (v.
7-8), or we value the preciousness of Christ through faith (v. 7).